Adding emphasis with "fei....buke"

"非...不可" (fēi...bùkě) can generally be used to emphasis something must be done or must be someone. Actually it has the similar meaning with"必须", however, it can be used in different situations.

Structure

Subject + 非 + verb/verb phrase + 不可

It can be used to express determination

When used before a verb,非...不可 expresses that the speaker has strong desire and determination to do that thing.

Examples

• 我 非 学 好 汉语 不可。I have to study Chinese well.
• 我 非 弄 懂 这个 问题不可。I have to understand this problem.
• 我 非 把 HSK6级 考 出来不可。I have to take the HSK 6 test.

To express necessity

非...不可 can be used to indicate that something must be done under a certain situation.

Examples

• 这 次 去 谈生意，只有 小王 最 熟悉 那种 产品，他 非 去 不可。Little Wang is the only one who understands this kind of product. He has to be the one to go to this business discussion.
• 干 这 项 工作，人手 不够, 非 增加 人口 不可。There isn't enough personnel for this work. We need to add more people.
• 这 封 信 非 答复 不可。This letter must be answered.

To predict the future events

非...不可 can also be used to predict that something will happen in the future. This is similar to how in English we may say "Tomorrow is going to be cold, for sure it will snow."

Examples

• 你们 不 好好 练球，明天 的 球赛 非 输 不可。If you guys don't practice, you are definitely going to lose tomorrow's game.
• 你 再 这样 干 坏事 下去，非 进 监狱 不可。If you continue to keep doing this bad stuff, you are oing to have to go to prison.
• 今天 这么 冷，明天 非 下雪 不可。It's so cold today. It's definitely going to snow tomorrow.

See also

• Expressing determination with "feiyao"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (p.205) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 124) →buy

HSK6